In Tarragona’s Lower Camp area, a covert cannabis operation was disrupted as five suspects were arrested for cultivating a large plantation hidden in a difficult-to-access woodland zone equipped with its own irrigation system and an advanced surveillance setup designed to alert the gang and authorities. The police action underscores the shifts in local criminal activity and the careful planning behind these illicit grow operations, which often blend into rugged landscapes and outlying rural districts. The investigation highlights how authorities trace concealed grow sites by following water infrastructure, electrical components, and unique security arrangements that farmers of illegal crops rely on to protect their investment.
The Mossos d’Esquadra carried out the operation on a Wednesday in a wooded stretch between Querol and Farena, within the Mont-ral municipality. Over recent weeks, officers had conducted multiple checks in natural areas known for sizable plantations, building a broader intelligence picture that supported the broader crackdown. The pattern mirrors earlier months when investigators noted recurring activity along similar routes and in comparable terrain, prompting intensified patrols and targeted searches to disrupt supply chains and deter further illicit cultivation.
As recorded in the operation, the area near the TV-7044 road continued to be a focal point of activity, with Mossos reporting ongoing concerns over illicit cultivation near major transit corridors. The persistent presence of potential grow sites along this corridor highlights how criminal groups seek to exploit accessibility while remaining hidden in rural landscapes, a dynamic law enforcement units have repeatedly addressed through coordinated surveillance and rapid response measures.
Before the officers reached the main plantation, they discovered a tent shelter containing a man, along with a collection of mobile devices. This setup appeared to function as an advanced lookout post, where associates could relay information about approaching authorities or disturbances. The presence of this mobile network and communication equipment helped investigators map the gang’s operational tempo and reaction times, underscoring how technology is leveraged to coordinate illicit activities across the site.
A short distance away, another tent housed four additional individuals who fled upon noticing the police presence. Despite their initial attempt to escape, all four were apprehended. The swift capture demonstrated the officers’ ability to secure the scene, prevent further dispersion of workers, and preserve crucial evidence for subsequent proceedings. The arrests created a clear turning point in the operation, limiting the gang’s ability to dismantle and relocate the cultivation infrastructure as officers expanded their search radius through the woodland area.
The plantation featured a dismantled water piping system, consistent with patterns observed in previous operations carried out by Mossos. The site included a water reservoir, a generator, and a pumping mechanism essential for irrigating the cannabis crop. This combination of infrastructure shows a deliberate effort to maintain large-scale growth in a self-sustaining environment, with water management playing a central role in the illicit operation. Investigators documented the layout and condition of the irrigation framework to support legal action and potential forfeiture claims, while also highlighting the environmental footprint of such activities and the risk to local water resources and ecosystems.
Inside the cultivation zones, authorities counted around a thousand cannabis plants at different growth stages, indicating a well-established operation with a sizable workforce and a multi-month cultivation cycle. The scale of the set-up points to organized criminal activity, with significant potential profits and a need for ongoing security, logistics, and labor management that typically accompanies such grows. The evidence collected at the scene will inform the prosecution’s case and help determine the overall impact of the operation on public safety and local communities.
The five individuals in custody appeared in court the following Friday, with the Valls guard finalizing orders related to the case. The judges issued release on charges, as authorities continue their investigation and pursue further legal actions. While the immediate arrests disrupt this particular operation, authorities stress that ongoing efforts will target similar networks and persistently work to remove illicit crops from protected rural areas, preserve natural resources, and safeguard residents in the broader Catalonia region.